Improvement in machines for stretching hat-bodies



Unrrnn STATES PATENT' OFFrcE.

ELAM HECHLER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA. K

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR STRETCHING HAT-BDIES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.l5S,079. dated December 22, 1374? application filed To'ctll whom 'it may concern f' Be it known that I, ELAM HEGHLER, of Reading, in the county of Berks and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Stretching HatBodies 5 and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a machine for stretching hat-bodies, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a part thereof, through the line x ai, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of a revolving worm used in the machine.

A represents the bed of my machine, from which rises an upright standard, B. 0n this standard is secured a horizontal arm or bar, C, through which passes a vertical shaft, a 5 and the lower end of said shaft has its bearing in the base or bed timber A. Surrounding the shaft a, and secured to the top of the arm C, is a sleeve, b, on the upper end of which is formed a circular head, D. If this head is made of wood it should be surrounded by a metal band,as shown in Fig. 2. On the upper end of the shaft a is secured a circular head, E, which is convex upon its upper surface; and upon this convex surface is formed or attached a spiral or worm-flange, d. G represents a spiral spring surrounding the sleeve I), and is attached to and supported by the horizontal arm G. This spring supports a cup, H, which surrounds the head D, and extends up even with the edge of the head E. I is a pulley secured on the shaft a, below the arm C, to be connected by a belt with a suitable or convenient power to revolve the shaft with its head E and worm-ange d. On the bed A is pivoted atreadle, J, which is held in an elevated position by means of a spring, K. This treadle is by a pivoted link, f, connected to the lower end of a rod, L, which passes September 5, 1874.

vertically upward through loops c e, attached to theside of the standard B. The upper end of the rod L is bent forward at right angles, and to its end are firmly attached springmrms M M, having at their lower ends curved or semicircular jaws N N, as shown. Through the spring-arms M passes a rod, It, having screw-threads upon both ends, and upon each end are placed two nuts, t' i, one on each side of the arm, by which means thejaws N may be adjusted out or in as desired.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The material to be stretched is placed on the head E, and by pressing down on the treadle J the jaws N N descend and hold the material between them and the edge of the cup H. This cup yields to the pressure from above on account of the spring G under it. The shaft a, with the head E revolving, the material is stretched by the spiral or worm iianged while it is under pressure between the jaws N and cup H. As the felt is stretched, and the cup H descends, the stationary head D forms the bearing against which the sides of the stretched material rest; and this head also forms a stop or check for the upward movement of the cup.

By this mode of stretching hat-tips the felt is stretched equally over all parts without injury.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the adjustable jaws N N, and the yielding cup H, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the revolving head E with spiral or worin iiange d, the adj ustabie jawsN N, and the yielding cup H, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination ofthe stationary head D with sleeve .12, surrounding the revolving shaft a, the cup H, and spring G, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of August, 1874.

ELAM HECHLER.

Witnesses:

J. TYLER POWELL, C L. EVERT. 

